2026 Australian Open Water Championships and OceanSwim Festival

Entries are now closed. No further late entries will be accepted under any circumstances.

The Timeline is a GUIDELINE ONLY and is subject to unexpected changes. Current Version: 06

*Changes to Events 5 & 6: the boys and girls 7.5km event has been swapped around so that the boys will still swim first. While we cannot change this in Swim Central, please take note of the changed Timeline below.

We encourage all participants to read the Information Book provided below. If you have any questions that are not answered in the Info Book, there is a Q&A link on the last page for you to submit questions. Current Version: 04

You may view your competitor/tattoo number by event order in the Start List below and by alphabetical order in the Competitor Number List below. This will be your tattoo number for each individual event. Those swimmers also in a relay will receive a different tattoo number.

TATTOO APPLICATION HANDY HINT: Please remember to remove the plastic on the tattoo page BEFORE application. Wetting the back of the tattoo while the plastic is still on will damage the tattoo and we may not have enough spares to replace damaged tattoos.

Cap Colours for each event can be found below. Relay Teams please be aware for clubs in event 9 will need to wear their club cabs and have been emailed about this.

*Changes to Events 5 & 6: the boys and girls 7.5km event has been swapped around so that the boys will still swim first. Please take note of the changes to the Program of Events below.

All Relay Only swimmers (not entered in any individual events) must process their Relay Only accreditation HERE.

For the 2026 Open Water Championships relay teams, please be advised of a new rule that will shortly be updated:

“In club relay events, clubs may include a maximum of two “relay only” swimmers per relay team. The remaining two members of the team, including named reserves, must have entered at least one individual event at the competition.”

A $50,000 AUD prize purse is on offer for the Top 8 finishers of the men’s and women’s 10km.

First place will receive $8000 AUD, $6000 AUD for second and $4000 AUD for third descending down in value to 8th place, as per the below:

If you are in good health and have NO MEDICAL ISSUES that could be impacted by swimming an ocean swim, please do not use this form.

This form is only required if you have a pre-existing medical condition that our medical team may need to know about in the event of a medical emergency occurring during your swim.

This form is strictly confidential and only shared with our medical team in the event of a medical emergency where you may be unable to verbalise your medical history.

Following the completion of the meet, your form will be deleted

CLICK HERE to submit your information only if required.

 

‘Feeders’ are to report to the registration building with their athlete and bring their feeding poles on the morning of their race. The feeding poles will be inspected and tagged by the Technical Officials. Feeders are to collect their wrist band at the registration area to allow them access to the pontoon

Feeders must complete the correct feeder indemnity form, links below. Wrist bands will not be provided to anyone who has not completed the form.

All swimmers are responsible for organising their own feeders

Feeders are to be environmentally conscious and take all your rubbish with you from the pontoon

No objects are to be thrown from the feeding pontoon to the swimmers, including sustenance. Swimmers must receive their feeding directly from their representative either by a feeding pole or by hand

Feeding poles are not to exceed 5m in length when extended. No objects, rope or wire may hang off the end of feeding poles except flags. The athlete’s ID and club is permitted to be attached to the feeding pole but must not exceed the size of 30cm x 20cm and must not contain any advertising. Flags shall be of fabric material with no hard edges and without any weight or other items added.

Click Here to purchase your accreditation.

Accreditation will close at 11:59PM AEDT Thursday 8th January 2026. Late accreditation requests after this deadline will be subject to approval.

Accreditation cannot be purchased onsite at the event and a $25 reprint fee will apply for any lost or forgotten passes.

Athletes who enter individual events will automatically receive accreditation and do not need to apply.

Athletes who are Relay Only Swimmers (only entered in a club relay and no other events) must apply for their accreditation by paying their Relay Only Swimmer Fee HERE. (this fee is not the club relay entry fee and must be paid for before arrival or the swimmer will be removed from the team)

For any questions, please email accreditation@swimming.org.au

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Briefing, please see the Q and A FAQ sheets below – this will be incorporated to future Info Books. The link to submit new questions is in the FAQ sheet.

The Dolphin Discovery Centre Bunbury is a self-sustaining not for profit community organisation dedicated to the protection of marine animals and the conservation of their environment.

Their vision is for a world where marine animals are free to swim the oceans without threat of injury or destruction of their habitat.

Every year they must raise over $450,000 to fund their life-saving Dolphin Rescue, Whale Stranding, Turtle Rehabilitation and other conservation programs through Eco Tourism, Sponsorships, Grants, and  Donations.

To read more, visit their website HERE.

Swimming Australia Open Water Swimming Rules, Commercial Guidelines and Competition Regulations can be found below.

Please be advised the Rules and Regulations have recently undergone review. We encourage all stakeholders to read the updates below.

For the 2026 Open Water Championships relay teams, please be advised of a new rule that has been applied:

“In club relay events, clubs may include a maximum of two “relay only” swimmers per relay team. The remaining two members of the team, including named reserves, must have entered at least one individual event at the competition.”